Colin throws questions at the North Coast Posse (Big $ and Ice Cube (no, not that Ice Cube) on the upcoming Browns’ season. Follow on Twitter @northcoastposse
Colin - Ok, I'm waving a magic wand, putting you two in charge of the Cleveland Browns and sending you back in time to February 2022. How would you have handled the QB situation heading into the upcoming season?
Big $: Look, if you know me, follow me on social media or were in 500 yards of my garage bar on that fateful day in March, you’re clearly in the understanding that I would of done things a “little” different (to say the least). Watching a franchise sell a guy down the river that brought life to a 4- 44 debacle and won a playoff game in freaking Pittsburgh was earth shattering.
With that said, it’s a show me league. Baker was a physical mess last year, but also had some pit falls in the Freddie K season. Did he earn the Josh Allen extension?, no. Did he deserve the right to get healthy, ditch the harness and sling? Yes, very much so. The Browns had every right to light a little fire under #6. Josh Dobbs, would of still been a great camp addition, maybe draft Sam Howell or Matt Corral in the 3rd or 4th. Roll the dice and cut ties with Baker if the playoffs weren’t RETURNED to. Notice.I capitalized “returned”as this ain’t Daniel Jones were talking about, this is a QB with a road playoff win for the freaking Browns. Instead, the brain trust decided to get rid of valuable NFL first rounders (plural) and offer the most irresponsible contract in sports history to a sexual deviant with as many playoff wins as Mayfield. #Gross.
(That’s as about as diplomatic as I can be. If I truly had my druthers, I would of sent Stefanski and the ivy leaguers to Carolina and brought Dorsey back)
Colin - The Browns season win over/under is currently off the board, because you know, we are the Browns, but what do you think is a realistic win total for this squad?
Ice Cube: For all the hype about this roster, there is still only 1 proven receiver in newby Amari Cooper. Also we have a starting QB in Jacoby Brissett (for at least the 11 games of the year) with a 38% winning percentage, and a coach that loves to run tight end screens. Brissett may have a good history of protecting the ball, with a better than 2-to-1 TD to INT ration, but there are major doubts as to whether he can make anything out of this squad of novice wideouts. Look for teams to load up the box to shut down the run game of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt cuz the O has zero threat over the top. I smell a lot of 3-and-outs on the horizon. On the other side of the ball, the DBs group looks great on paper, but there is a lack of experience and depth on the interior of the D-line. I think this makes the Browns susceptible to some grind em’ down drives by opponents and little fire power to hang in a shoot-out. I ain’t buying the hype. The schedule is fairly balanced with top-flight squads and the dregs of the league, but unforch these kinds of opponents are grouped together by type. The slate provides the chance for a strong start with the first 4 games against Carolina, the Jets, a rebuilding Steelers team, and then Atlanta. The Oranger and Brown can probably snatch 3 of those. But then there is a 7 game stretch against AFC darling-picks in the Chargers and Bills, Baltimore, defending conference champs Cincinnati, as well as a rising Miami team, Tom Brady’s Buccaneers, and the Patriots, who beat Cleveland by 6,000 points last year. It is a totally realistic possibility that the Browns could lose all 7 in a row. After that Watson comes back, after nearly 2 years away from the field, in week 13 to finish out a mediocre year. I am putting the over/under at 7.5, which is also probably the number of beers it will take to get through the 2nd half of most games.
Colin - Best case scenario?
Big$: Best case scenario for me- Stefanski fired by the bye and Rosen elevated from the practice squad to start. I might get back on board for that.
Colin - Worst case scenario?
Ice Cube: The worst-case scenario is what we are going through right now. Instead of the excitement and optimism that Browns fans usually experience at the start of a new season, with visions of playoff games dancing in our heads, I feel an unsettling combination of anger and yet ambivalence about this season. How should I feel about a season that hinges this prospect: “… but just wait until the [alleged] pervert we mortgaged the future for comes back in December, AND has no one to throw to.” I never thought I would say that I now look fondly at the Mangini years, but yet here we are.
Colin - I've been hesitant to wear my Browns gear in public due to our new villainous reputation. I might need a backup team to get through the season with my dignity in tact. What bandwagon should I jump on?
Big $ - I keep hearing excuses for sticking with this sh*t show like … “its in my blood” or “I grew up with this franchise”. I have news for you, the franchise that earned that unconditional love broke our hearts and skipped town for the home of The Wire in 1995. What we have been subjected to since 1999 is simply an embarrassment. Regime change after regime change, losing season after soul crushing losing season, Derek Anderson worship, Mother f-ing Johnny Manziel (who some of you wept tears of joy for on draft night). In a word...MISERY. I spent three years of my college experience without the Browns on Sundays. Sundays in which I was not expected to be at work earning a living on the following Monday. I survived, therefore I’m pretty sure I can leave this team behind. Openly supporting a franchise that not only took on Watson, but gave him the most ridiculous reward in NFL history should be the ultimate deal breaker. Alas, I am reminded of my Johnny Football statement above and what it says about this fanbase. Good Riddance.
So with said, here are the top 3 choices for who you should root for:
The team you have money on: Use this opportunity to explore the wonderful world of wagering. It’s a helluva lot more fun than rooting for the Clowns week to week.
The Panthers: self explanatory
The Bills: Josh Allen is tall (and probably who we should of drafted anyway- Check the pencil storm archives)
Honorable mention: The Raiders- Sick ass uniforms and a NE Ohio boy at the helm